Vintage amplifiers and dating information Oahu, Oliver, Option 5, Orange

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o	info updated 20/9/2011
Oahu	Oahu amps came out of the Oahu Publishin Co in Cleveland Ohio. The earliest amp is from the 1930s - possible made by Lyon and Healy. During the 1940s and 50s made by Valco. [Source: The Amp Book: A Guitarist's Introductory Guide to Tube Amplifiers By Donald Brosnac] Oahu pics and history Oahu schematic Reviews are at Harmony Central I took these photos of an Oahu Tonemaster amp with permission at Chicago Music Exchange in 2008.
Oberheim	Oberheim Electronics is an American company, founded in 1969 by Tom Oberheim (a former designer and contract manufacturer for Maestro) [Source: Wikipedia]. He invented the ring modulator [Source: Wingspread Records]
Ohm click to enlarge	Ohm brand guitar amplifiers 1970s-80s from the United Kingdom. "Thank you for your email inquiring about OHM guitar amps. Yes we are the company that used to make these in the 1980's. We have since moved on to sound reinforcement and live systems but we still get a lot of questions about back-line. In 2009 we celebrated our 30th year and we issued a newsletter with a review of our history, I have attached a scan of this which tells most of what we can remember. I hope that this is of some use to you. Best regards, Clive" [Source: Clive Kinton, Sales Manager, Ohm email 29/6/2011] Image OHM Graphic Reverb model GR100 combo courtesy Erik Fremstad.
Oliver	Oliver brand amplifiers were a product of Oliver Sound Co Inc Linden New Jersey USA. At least made in 1969. [Source: Flickr] Jess Oliver was designer of the Ampeg Portaflex and other bass amps, former Ampeg Vice President, and manufacturer of his own Oliver Amp Company amplifiers. [Source: Keith Rosier] Oliver amp catalog http://www.pmillett.com/file_downloads/oliver_amps.pdf Reviews are at Harmony Central Image Oliver Sound, Co, Inc. Westbury, NY. MODEL No. HG-400R, Serial No. 7018 purchased 1969 from eBay:
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Option 5	Option 5 effects pedals - officially began in 2002 by Jay Woods. Mishawaka, Indiana USA Reviews are at Harmony Central
Orange/ Matamp	Founded by Cliff Cooper in 1968 the first Orange amps were supplied by a small north of England company called Radio Craft which made a versatile, top-spec 30-watt valve guitar amp - the Matamp Series 2000. In autumn 1968, Cliff placed an order to make some 100-watt valve amps for Orange. Guitars and drums were part of the line up in the 1970s. In the mid-1990s Cliff licensed the Orange trademark to the Gibson Corporation in America but Orange went back to Cliff’s hands in the late 90s. Currently made in UK and China. [Source: Orange ] Dating Orange amps http://users.telenet.be/orangefg/dating_page.htm This forum should help you http://www.orangeamps.com/forumtest/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4 Other Orange info Orange amp field guide http://www.valveamps.com/orangeod.htm http://www.geocities.com/plexy2000/page9.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Music_Electronic_Company Orange pictures http://www.soulbuzz.de/orange/ Orange amp catalogs 1960/70 Orange catalog Front 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Other catalogs may be available at the Orange amp forum ads http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/advertisements/orange Orange amps manuals and schematics http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1 http://www.britishaudioservice.com/manuals.shtml http://www.drtube.com/guitamp.htm http://www.kbapps.com/schematics.html http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm http://users.telenet.be/orangefg/orange_mods.htm Reviews are at Harmony Central
Orbitron	Made late 1960s to 1970s. There appears to be modern Orbitron amp head made by Electrosinic.
Orpheum	Orpheum guitars were made in USA 1930s to 1940s distributed by William L Lange and Bruno. Made in Japan 1960s distributed by Maurice Lipsky Musuc NY. Tacoma bought the name and uses it today for banjo's, mandolins and resonator guitars. [Source: Blue Book and Olympia Guitars] [Source: Vintage amps] Image Orpheum Model No 700 Tube Amplifier Mfg by Maurice Lipsky Music Co, N.Y., N.Y from ebay:
Ovation	The first Ovation guitar made its debut in November, 1966. They were making amps at least in 1969. [Source: Ovation Tribute] http://www.ovationgallery.com/pagecatalog.htm ad http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/advertisements/Ovation Image eBay:
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